Power-generating apparatus



Patented Apr. 22, 1924.,

CHARLES R. FORD, OIE' HOT LAKE, OREGON, ASSIGNOR T0 CHARLES R. FORD COM- PANY, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION OF WASI-IINGrTON.V

POWER-GENERATING APPARATUS.

Application filed December 21, 1922.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it Vknown that L'CHARLES R. FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hot Lake, in the county of Union and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Generating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to a power generating apparatus, designed primarily for use in, propelling marine vessels, but it is to be understood that a power generating apparatus in accordance with thisinvention can be employed for any purposes wherein it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide in the manner as hereinafter set forth, a power generating apparatus including and operated by a plurality of rotors driven by directed air currents for generating power which can be utilized for driving purposes, more particularly the propeller mechanism of a marine vessel.

Further objects of the invention are vto provide a power generating apparatus for the purpose set forth which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, inexpensive to operate, readily set up, efcient and convenient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to install.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the inventionconsists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to, which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:-

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a marine vessel showing the adaptation therewith of a power generating apparatus in accordance with this invention.

A Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, in verticalv section, of a portion of the apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3` of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4.-4 of Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 denotes' the hull of a marine vessel, 2 the propeller which is carried by a propeller shaft Serial No. 608,257.

formed of a section 3V and 'a section 4, which are operatively connected together through the medium of a clutching mechanism 5. The section 4 of the propeller shaft is provided with a bevelled gear 6, which meshes with a bevelled gear 7, carried by a vertically disposed transmission shaft 8. Bearings 9 are provided for the shaft sections 3 and 4, and bearings 10 and 11 for the vertically disposed shaft 8.

ing 16, for the passage of the member 13.`

Carried by the top 15 and arranged to aline with the opening 16, is a flange collar 17, formed with a groove 18, for the reception of bearing balls 19. The tubular member 13, is mounted in a bearing 20, carried by the flooring or support 12, and is also rotatably supported on the collar 17, through the medium of the balls 19, extending into a flanged collar 21, which is iixedly secured to the member 13, near the upper end thereof. The collar 21overlaps the bearing balls 19, and also the collar-17.-

Connected tothe upper end of the member 13,' and bodily movable with saidmember 13, is a conduit 22, which disposed lengthwise with respect to the lengthl of the marine vessel, and the conduit 22, at its forward end, is funnel-shaped or flaring as at 23, and has projecting-from the rear portion thereof, a plurality of vanes 24. The conduit 22, has depending therefrom, a plug 25, which is xedly secured to the member 13, and is furthermore fixedly secured to the conduit'22, through the medium of hold fast devices 26. The plug 25 is provided with a centrally arranged opening 27, which lregisters with an opening 28, formed in the bottom of the conduit 22.

loo

The transmission sha-ftv 8 extends up through the member 13, plug 29, the opening 28, into the conduit 22, and has its upper vend provided with a bevelled gear 29.l

Extending longitudinally of the conduit 22, and terminating at a point removed from the flaring end 23 of said conduit 22, is a shaft 30, which fis mounted n bearings 3l, carried by transverse supports 32, secured within the conduit 22.

The shaft 30 is provided with a series'of rotors 33, in the form of wind wheels and each of which consists of a hub. 34, and a series of closely arranged radially extending blades 35, which are disposed obliquely with respect to the hub The blades 35 eX- tend in close proximity to the inner face of the conduit 22. The rotors are arrangedin two sets spaced from each other.

ends thereof, is a bevelled gear 10, which meshes with the bevelled gear 29.

` The conduit 22, and guides 36, provide means for directing, an air current against the rotors 33. whereby the shaft 30 will be operated, and owing to the meshing of the gear 40, with the gear 29, the transmission shaft 8 will be driven. causing thereby the operation of the propeller shaft, as the shaft 8 is operatively connected with the propeller shaft through the medium of the gears 6 and 7.

The clutching mechanism 5, is so set up, that the shaft 3 can be driven in either direction.

Owing to the manner in which the conduit 22 is set up, that is to say with respect to the member 15. it can swing in the desired direction, so that air currents from any direction can be utilized in driving the rotors 33. The currents passing through the conduit 22, will be held in a straight course, through the medium of the guides 36, so that the blades 35 will be uniformly 'impacted by the current-s causing thereby the driving of the shaft 30. f Y From the foregoing description taken in A connection with the accompanying` drawings',

a power generating device is set up, which can be employed for propelling marine vessels or driving machine parts, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention isras shown, yet changes in the details of construction can be had without departing Irom the spirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is i c h power generating apparatus, comprising a conduit for the passage Vof aircurrents,.a shaft journalled therein, a pairof spaced setsV of air drivenrotors fixed to said shaft for driving it and operated by the current passing through said conduit, a. plurality of guides arranged within yand secured to said conduit and interposed between resinas the rotors of each set, and a power trans mission driven from said shaft at a point between the sets of rotors.

2. A power generating apparatus comprising a conduit having a. straight portion and a flaring forward end, said conduit providing .means for the passage of air currents, a shaft journalied in the straight portion of said conduit, a pair of spaced sets of air driven rotors' fixed to said shaft'for driving it and operated by the passage of the currents through said conduit` as plurality of guides arranged within and secured to said conduit and interposed between the rotors of each set, and a power transmission driven from said shaft at a said sets of rotors. A

3. A power generating apparatus comprising a conduit having a straight portion and a flaring forward end, said conduitproviding means for the passage of air currents,` a shaft journalled in the straight point V.between portion of said conduit, a pair of spaced sets of air driven rotors fixed to said shaft for driving it and operated by the passage of the currents through said conduit, a plurality of guides arranged within and'securedk to said conduit and interposed between the rotors of each set, a power transmission driven from said shaft at a pointbetween said sets of rotors, and means for shiftably supporting said conduit, and through which extends said transmission.`

4. A power generating apparatus coin-V prising a conduit for the passage of air currents, a shaft journalled therein, a pair of yspaced sets of air driven rotors fixed to said shaft for driving it and operated by the passage of currents through said conduit, a plurality of guides aranged within and secured to said conduit and interposed between the rotors of 'each set, a vertically disposed and shiftable support connected with said conduit, and a transmissiony shaft extending up through said support and intosaid conduit and operatively connected with the rotor shaft between said sets of rotors.

5. Apower generating apparatus comprisinga conduit for the passage of air current, a shaft journalled therein.y a pair of spaced sets of air driven rotors fixed to said shaft for driving itand operated by the passage of currents vthrough said conduit-s, a plurality of guides arranged within and securedl to said conduit and interposed between the rotors of each set, a vertically disposed andV shiftable support connected with said conduit, and a transmission shaft extending up through said supoprt and into said conduit and operatively connected Vwith the rotor .ing a horizontally `s hiftable conduit for the lio passage of air currents, a shaft journalled therein, a plurality of bladed air driven rotors fixed to and driving said shaft and operated by the currents passing through said conduit, the blades of each rotor being fiat, closely arranged, overlapping at their inner ends, spaced from each other at their outer ends, and of materially greater length than width, a plurality of guides arranged Et:- within said conduit and each including a series of arms fixed to the conduit, said guides interposed between saidrotors, the number of blades of each rotor being in excess of the number of arms of each guide, and a transmission element operatively connected with said shaft.

7 A power generating apparatus comprising a horizontally shiftableconduit fpr the passage of air currents, a shaft journalled therein, a plurality of bladed air driven rotors fixed to and driving said shaft and operated by the currents passing through said conduit, the blades of each rotor being fiat, closely arranged, overlapping at their inner ends, spaced from each other at their outer ends, and of materially greater length than width, a plurality of guides arranged within said conduit and each including a series of arms fixed to the conduit, said guides interposed between said rotors, the number of blades of each rotor being in excess of the number of arms of each'guide, and a transmission element operatively connected with said shaft, said conduit being flared at one end and having its other end provided with oppositely extending vanes.

8. A power generating apparatus comprising a conduit open at each end and providing means for confining and directing the passage of air currents, a rotatable shaft supported within said conduit, a plurality of hubs fixed to said shaft, a series of closely arranged blades fixed to each of saidv hubs and disposed at an inclination with respect vto the periphery of the hub, said blades of shiftably supporting it, and a transmission shaft extending through said means and operatively connected with said shaft.

9. A power generating apparatus Comprising a conduit open at each end and providing means for confining and directing the passage of air currents, a rotatable shaft supported wit-hin said conduit, a plurality of hubs fixed to said shaft, a series of closely arranged blades fixed to each of said hubs and disposed at an inclination with respect to the periphery of the hub, said blades of each hub overlapping each other at the inner portions thereof and spaced from each other at the outer portions thereof, each of said blades being of materially greater length than width, guide elements yfixed to said conduit and interposed between said hubs, means disposed at right angles to said conduit for shiftably supporting it, and a transmission shaft extending through said means and operatively connected with said shaft, the said transmission shaft operatively connected with the first mentioned shaft intermediate the ends of the latter.

AIn testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

` CHARLES R. FORD. 

